Maker of Fire

Kas, Planting Season, 5th rot., 10th day to 6th rot., 2nd day

A huge ice dam formed a half wagon-day up the river from Kas, forming a constriction of ice and debris. The Planting Season runoff jumped the banks and flooded the farm fields along the Salt River. Those living on the flats and in the riverside neighborhoods of Kas evacuated to the Peaceful Shrine of Erhonsay, built on the sides of South Twin Butte.

Lord Us'sayyos haup Kas sent half his soldiers to the Northern Army assembly camp one rotation early. This measure allowed him to house some of those evacuated in the emptied army tents. He hoped it didn't rain on his tentless troops but it was an emergency.

The Shrine of Mueb sent earth mages to augment the levees through Kas. The Shrine of Gertzpul sent journey mages to reroute roads and clear the accumulating debris from the bridge at Kas. The Shrine of Landa sent adepts and trainees to organize evacuees because the Shrine of Surd's resources had already been deployed in Aybhas.

When the ice dam broke, the levees held. Unfortunately, the surge of ice and debris destroyed the bridge over the river, including one of the ancient stone piers that withstood two millennia of floods. With the bridge out, the only other road going south wrapped around the west side of South Twin Butte. The butte, one of two that sandwiched Kas, was a dormant black bubble rock volcano that jutted into the river on the east. Flood water infiltration from north of Kas fed the geyser field on the west side of South Twin Butte, creating a spectacle for those traveling south on the road around the butte.

Two days after the ice dam broke, Lord Kas felt confident in the recovery efforts underway. To free up more tent space, he led the remainder of his soldiers to the assembly point, riding ahead on his eagle with all his children, excluding his youngest son, who was still a trainee at the Shrine of Gertzpul.

After he saw his troops settled, Lord Kas planned to depart for Truvos so he could arrive in time for the marriage of the Heir of Pinisla. He approved of this marriage. Without the survival of Kayseo haup Pinisla, the offspring of that halfhair mutt, General Bobbo, would inherit the holding with its valuable timber and the fire opal mine. What was the King thinking when he made Bobbo the caretaker lord? The man was born so low that he didn't even have a last name!

Lord Kas only experienced a brief moment of fright before he died. The phreatic explosion destroyed the road on the west side of the river between the South Twin Butte and Kesmat. The marching troops watched in horror as the great spray of steam, rocks, and super-heated mud blossomed upward, engulfing Lord Kas, his sons, one daughter, and his household guards. None were ever seen again.

That evening, the King and the Heir of Pinisla decided not to delay the wedding because the Prophet and Blessed of Galt had to return immediately to Sussbesschem. The next morning, a tired-looking Lord Irhessa haup Gunndit arrived just one bell before the double marriage ceremony. The King was observed dragging Lord Irhessa aside during the feast afterward, looking cross.

Emily, Aybhas and Truvos, Planting Season, 5th rot., 10th day evening

Tom and I got a ride with Asgotl down to the chapel shrine. Before we left, I stopped by the study to tell Lisaykos where we were going. Then, I had a thought and followed up on it.

"Lisaykos?"

"I thought you were leaving now?"

"Yes, but is the King around? Or is he off somewhere?"

"He is down in his suite with the Queen," Lisaykos gave me a speculative look. "You have one of those looks on your face."

"Which one?" I couldn't resist needling her. "You keep telling me I have thousands." I batted my eyelashes at Lisaykos, and Kamagishi lost it laughing. Lord Katsa looked amused, Senlyosart smiled, and Losnana looked like she was taking mental notes.

"What is on your mind, Great Bug?" Lisaykos asked with great drama.

"If the King is still here, then who is with the King? Lord Usruldes or Snow Bear? I'd like to speak to whichever is in charge of my invisible guard of wraiths, please. Can you find out for me?"

I watched as Lisaykos got that half-lidded look as she mindcasted someone. Then, she looked at me, "Snow Bear is coming."

"I'll meet him out in the hall," I said, heading for the door.

"You can meet him here," Lisaykos said.

"No, I'll meet him out there. Thanks, Lisaykos," I waved as I exited into the hallway.

"You've got a look that says trouble," Asgotl said and walked over to me. "What's up, Grandma?"

"Where's Tom?" I asked.

"Getting into his flying gear, which you should be doing too."

"You there, Flea?" I asked the air.

"I am, Great One," the air replied.

"Go wait with Tom, please. I need to talk with Snow Bear in private."

"But Great One—"

"This is not negotiable, Flea," I said. "I'm making this an order."

There was a pause and Snow Bear appeared in front of me. Then Flea's voice said, "Your will, Great One."

Snow Bear made a kneeling obeisance and then stayed on his knees, "How may I serve you, Great One?"

"Snow Bear, I can tell that Usruldes recruited the lot of you because the wraiths are fanatics for doing their duty, just like him. This is both a virtue and a failing. For example, you asked Flea if she would volunteer to help while you're shorthanded, yes?"

"Only while you are here," Snow Bear replied. "That is correct."

"Send her to bed and then send her home is once she is rested," I said. "Anyone recruited by Usruldes would never turn down such a request, even though she is more than a half year pregnant. There are dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. I'd rather have ten visible guards following me than an invisible wraith who is pregnant and exhausted because you're shorthanded. I want you to take her off duty, Snow Bear."

"You saw Flea?" Snow Bear's eyes were unreadable.

"I asked her to speak to Tom about how my security works and the need for it, so yes, Tom and I saw her when she spoke with us, by my request" I explained. "I couldn't miss that she was both pregnant and exhausted. This is not acceptable, Snow Bear. Her duty is not just endangering her; it's endangering her baby. Would you have asked this of your own wife?"

He was silent.

"Snow Bear, I know exactly who your wife is, so let us dispense with the false subterfuge on identity. I was at your wedding. The body shape is unmistakable."

"My wife also came to work while pregnant over these last few days," he said in a perfectly neutral voice.

"And she is surrounded by healers who will stop her from overworking and harming herself and her unborn child," I countered, beginning to feel suddenly very angry. "If I hadn't asked Flea to speak with Tom and me, I would not have seen the dark circles under her eyes. She was working a difficult duty while invisible and alone, with no one to watch out for her and her baby. Snow Bear, the well-being of those who look after my own well-being is important to me. Take her off duty immediately and I will forget that this ever happened so long as you do not do something like this again."

"Emily, take who off duty?" Lisaykos asked, walking up behind me. "Snow Bear, don't bother with an obeisance. Just stay right there."

I had to sigh. This is why I wanted to keep the conversation between me and Snow Bear away from that nosy gaggle of silverhair ladies in the study. It was a management thing I picked up years ago: compliment in public and criticize in private.

"I thought I made it clear I wanted to talk with Snow Bear alone, dear heart," I grumped.

"Your anger was screaming. Three of us felt it inside my study," Lisaykos got on her knees to talk with me. "Who do you want off duty and why? And please don't tell me this is not my business in my own Shrine, Emily."

"Flea is my shadow right now. I discovered by accident she is pregnant. She is also exhausted and I'm concerned for her and her unborn child. She needs to rest and then she needs to go home. If necessary, I'll cheerfully tolerate visible guards rather than invisible wraiths who are too tired because there aren't enough of them. It's not fair to them."

"I will relieve Flea, Great One," Snow Bear said in a voice so flat that I was sure he was upset or angry. "Peregrine is one of the two on sentry duty on the balcony. She is a priestess battle mage of Erhonsay If she is acceptable as a guard, may she fly with you on Asgotl to the chapel shrine?"

"Yes, that is fine since I already know she can cast a moving barrier."

"Thank you, Great One," he bowed his head. "I will take just a moment to make arrangements."

"I will follow you, Snow Bear," Lisaykos got to her feet, "I wish to examine Flea to make sure she doesn't require more than just a simple rest. She can take room fifteen to sleep. Whoever is currently napping in my bathing chamber can take room fourteen."

Snow Bear gave Lisaykos a sharp look.

"Young man," Lisaykos used a voice she usually saved for trainees, "I know where every wraith is on this floor, including the one above the door in the room where the Queen currently is resting. Now take me to Flea."

(Continued in installment 2.86)